Pipe pulling device



Dec. 6, 1966 w. H. DUBBERKE PIPE PULLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 25, 1964 ,v. DUBZEPKE 2 5? AffQQ/VEKS Dec. 6, 1966 w. H. DUBBERKE 3,290,006

PIPE PULLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 23, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,290,006 PIPE PULLING DEVICE Walter H. Dubberke, Box 314, Hubbard, Iowa Filed Dec. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 420,614 11 Claims. (Cl. 254-31) This invention relates to a pipe pulling device and more particularly to a well pipe pulling device.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a pipe pulling device which quickly and effectively pulls pipe from a well.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pipe pulling device which is powered by a hydraulic cylinder means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pipe pulling device which has a brake means associated therewith to prevent the pipe from moving downwardly into the well.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pipe pulling device which has a pipe guide means associated therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pipe pulling device which may be adjusted to fit a variety of different sizes of pipes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pipe pulling device which may be adjusted to compensate for variations in a ground or platform surface adjacent the well.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pipe pulling device which has a means thereon to receive a section of well pipe thereon when it has been disconnected from the pipe string.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a pipe pulling device which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically-pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pipe pulling device; a

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic and control means of the device;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the device;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device seen in line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the device seen on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

The numeral generally designates the ground surface having a drill hole 11 extending downwardly there into and a pipe 13 received thereby. The brake means portion of the device is generally indicated at 14. The numeral 15 designates a flat rectangular plate having a notch 17 formed therein. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, plate 15 rests on the ground in such a position so that pipe 13 extends upwardly through notch 17. A pair of upstanding cars 19 and 21 are secured to the upper surface of plate 15, by means of welding or the like, between notch 17 and one of its ends and has a pin member 23 extending therebetween. Pin 23 has an elongated collar 25 rotatably mounted thereon which has an car 27 secured thereto and extending upwardly there from as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. Collar 25 has a tongue 26 secured thereto by welding which extends inwardly therefrom and which has a V-shaped notch 28 formed in its inner end. A stop means 29' is secured to the Patented Dec. 6, 1966 upper surface of plate 15 by means of welding and extends upwardly therefrom as seen in FIG. 1 to limit the downward movement of tongue 26. A plate 36 having spaced apart slots 31 and 33 formed therein is selectively slidably mounted on plate 15 by means of bolts 35 and 37 extending through slots 31 and 33 respectively and threadably received by plate 15.

An L-shaped tongue 39 is secured to the upper surface of plate 30 by means of welding and extends first upwardly and thence horizontally towards tongue 26- as seen in FIG. 3. Tongue 39 has a V-shaped notch 41 formed in its inner end. An ear member 43 is secured to the upper surface of plate 30 by means of welding and extends upwardly to engage the bottom surface of tongue 39 to prevent the inadvertent downward bending of tongue 39.

As seen in FIG. 5, an elongated ear member 45 is secured at its lower end to the upper surface of plate 15 by means of welding or the like and extends substantially vertically upwardly therefrom. A hydraulic cylinder 47 is pivotally connected at its base to car 45 by means of pin 49. Hydraulic cylinder 47 has its piston rod 51 pivotally secured to the upper end of car 27 by means of pin 53. A conduit 55 is connected to bydraulic cylinder 47 and is in communication with the interior of hydraulic cylinder 47 at a point below piston 57. A conduit 59 is connected tohydraulic cylinder 47 and is in communication with the interior of hydraulic cylinder 47 at a point forwardly of piston 55.

An upright support 61 having an inclined leg portion 63 on its lower end is positioned adjacent brake means 14 as seen in FIGS. 1 and '3. A leg portion 65 is pivotally connected at its upper end to support 61 by means of pin 67. Secured to leg portion 65 by welding or the like is an ear member 69 extending upwardly therefrom which pivotally receives one end of a turn buckle 71. The upper end of turnbuckle 71 is pivotally connected to collar 79 which is welded to support 61. A leg portion 73 is pivotally connected at its upper end to collar 72 by means of pin 67 extending thvough leg portion 65, collar 67 and leg portion 73. Secured to leg portion 73 by welding or the like is an car 75 extending upwardly therefrom which pivotally receives one end of atombuckle 77. The upper end of turnbuckle 77 is pivotally connected to collar 79 which is welded to support 61. A pin 81 extends through the upper end of turnbuckle 71, collar 79 .and the upper end of turnbuckle 77 as seen in FIG. 1.

A yoke means 83 is vertically movably mounted on sup-port 61 and includes spacedapart arcuate shaped channel members 85 and 87. As seen in FIG. 3, yoke means 83 has an inclined portion 89 and a horizontal portion 91. A concave wheel 93 is rotatably mounted on yoke 83 by means of pin 95 extending between channel members 85 and 87 adjacent their upper ends which is adapted to engage support 61 as seen in the drawings. A concave wheel 97 is rotatably mounted on yoke means 83 by means of pin 99 extending between channel members 85 and 87 at a point downwardly from wheel 93 and is adapted to engage support 6-1 at a point opposite to where wheel 93 engages support 61.

Ro'tatably extending between channel members 85 and 87 is a pin 101 having a collar 103 rotatably mounted thereon. A tongue 105 is welded to collar 103 and has a V-shaped notch formed in its free end. A stop means 109 is secured to and extends between channel members 85 and 87 in the pivotal path of tongue 105 to limit the downward movement of tongue 105. An operating handle 111 is secured to collar 103 by welding or the like and extends downwardly therefrom.

A substantially V-shaped jaw means 113 is pivotally connected at one of its ends to channel member 87 by means of pin 115 as seen in FIG. 1 and has a removable gripping plate insert 117 secured thereto in any convenient fashion which is adapted to grip pipe 13 at times. The other end of jaw means 113 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced holes which are adapted to receive pin 119. A vertically disposed collar 121 is welded to channel member 85 as seen in FIG. 1 and receives pin 119 when it is desired to close jaw means 113.

Secured to channel member 85 by means of welding at a point between pins 95 and 99 is a vertically disposed collar 123. A pipe hanger 125 is rotatably mounted at its inner end in collar 123 and has its outer end adapted to be received by the interior of pipe 13 and to support a section of pipe 13 at times.

A bracket 127 is secured to yoke means 83 at the upper end thereof. A hydraulic cylinder 129 is pivo-tally secured at its lower end by means of pin 130 to ear 131 which extends upwardly from the inclined portion of support 61. Piston rod 133 of hydraulic cylinder 129 is pivotally connected to bracket 127 by means of pin 135.

Hydraulic cylinder 129 has a conduit 137 connected thereto which is in communication with the interior thereof at a point below piston 139. Hydraulic cylinder 129 has a conduit 141 connected thereto which is in communication with the interior thereof at a point above piston 139.

With respect to FIG. 2, conduits 141 and 59 are connected to one side of a 4-way valve 143 by means of conduit 145. Conduits 55 and 137 are connected to the other side of valve 143 by means of conduit 147. Valve 143 is connected to a pump 149 by means of conduit 151. Pump 149 is connected to a reservoir 153 by means of conduit 155. Valve 143 is also connected to reservoir 153' by means of conduit 157. A conduit 161 is connected to conduit 157 and pump 149 and extends therebetween. A relief valve 161 is imposed in conduit 159.'

A pipe 163 is telescopically received by the upper end of support 61 and maintained therein by pin 165 extending therethrough. At the upper end of pipe 163 has a pipe guide 167 secured thereto which extends outwardly therefrom. The outer end of pipe guide 167 embraces pipe 13 to prevent undesirable lateral movement thereof.

The normal method of operation is as follows. When it is desired to remove a string of pipe 13 from a well it is simply necessary to position the device adjacent the pipe as previously described and as illustrated in the drawings.

Valve 143 would be operated so that piston rods 133 and 51 would be moved inwardly into their respective hydraulic cylinders. The movement of piston rod 133 into hydraulic cylinder 29 causes yoke means 83 to be moved to its downward position. The movement of piston rod 51 into hydraulic cylinder 47 causes tongue member 26 to be pivoted downward into engagement with pipe 13 as seen in FIG. 1.

An insert 117 would be mounted in jaw means 113 as previously described. Jaw means 113 would then be closed so that it occupied the position illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Pipe 13 is moved vertically upwardly from drill hole 11 by simply causing valve 143 to direct fluid into conduits 147, 137 and 55 so that piston rods 133 and 51 would be moved to an extended position. The extension of piston rod 133 causes yoke means 83 to be moved upwardly on support 61. Concave wheels 93 and 97 insure that yoke means 83 is moved upwardly on support 61 freely without any undesirable play. As yoke means 83 is moved upwardly on support 61, the V-shaped notch in the free end of tongue 5 engages pipe 13 and forces pipe 13 against insert 117. The gripping action of tongue 105 and insert 117 causes yoke means 83 to pull pipe 13 vertically upwardly. Simultaneous with the extension of piston rod 133 is the extension of piston rod '51. The extension of piston rod 51 causes tongue 26 to be pivoted out of gripping engagement with pipe 13 to enable the vertical movement of pipe 13. When yoke means 83 has reached its upper limits, it is simply necessary to operate valve 143 so that fluid is supplied to conduits 145, 141 and 59 to withdraw piston rods 133 and 51. The withdrawal of piston rod 133 into hydraulic cylinder 129 causes yoke means 83 to be moved downwardly on support 61. Tongue 106 pivots out of gripping engagement with pipe 13 due to the downward movement of yoke means 83. Simultaneous with the withdrawal of piston rod 133 into hydraulic cylinder 129 is the withdrawal of piston rod 51 into hydraulic cylinder 47. The withdrawal of piston rod 51 causes tongue 26 to be pivoted into gripping engagement with pipe 13 and forcing pipe 13 against notch 41 in tongue 39. The co-action of tongues 26 and 39 grip the pipe so that the pipe cannot inadvertently slip back down into the drill hole.

It can be appreciated that the ability of plate 30 to be slid'ably moved on plate 15 permits the brake means 14 to be adjusted for a variety of diiferent sizes of pipes. It should also be noted that turnbuckles 71 and 77 permit selective pivotal movement of leg portions 65 and 73 to permit the device to be leveled regardless of the irregularities in the terrain adjacent the Well.

When a section of pipe 13 has been removed from the remainder of the string, the lower end of the pipe section may be placed on the outer end of pipe hanger to sup.- po-rt the same.

Thus it can be see-n that the device provides a. means for quickly and easily pulling a string of pipe from a well due to the reciprocal movement of the yoke means on a support. Thus it can be seen from the foregoing that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my Pipe Pulling Device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and

it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a pipe puller, comprising,

an upstanding support means,

vertical movable mean-s mounted on said support means adapted to grip a pipe when said vertical movable means moves upwardly on said support means,

a first hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to said vertical movable means to move said vertical movable means upwardly and downwardly on said support means,

a brake means operatively engaging said pipe at times; said brake means gripping said pipe to prevent the downward movement thereof when said vertical movable means moves downwardly on said support means and adapted to release said pipe when said vertical movable means moves upwardly on said support means,

a second hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to said brake means to move said brake means into and out of gripping engagement with said pipe,

a valve means operatively fluidly connected to each end of said first and second hydraulic cylinders,

a hydraulic power source operatively fluidly connected to said valve means adapted to supply fluid under pressure to said valve means,

means on said valve for selectively directing said fluid under pressure to one end or the other of said first hydraulic cylinder,

and means on said valve for selectively directing said fluid under pressure to one end or the other of said second hydraulic cylinder simultaneously with the directing of said fi-uid under pressure to one end or the other of said first hydraulic cylinder.

2. In a pipe puller, comprising,

an upstanding support means,

a yoke means vertically movably mounted on said support means adapted to grip a pipe whensaid yoke means moves upwardly on said support means,

means operatively connected to said yoke means to move said yoke means upwardly and downwardly on said support means,

a brake means operatively engaging said pipe; said brake means gripping said pipe to prevent the downward movement thereof when said yoke means moves downwardly on said support means and adapted to release said pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means,

said yoke means including first and second spaced apart side members extending downwardly and outwardly of said support means and having first and second spaced apart wheel means rotatably mounted therebetween; said first and second Wheel means engaging opposite sides of said support means; said side members terminating in horizontal portions extending outwardly of said support means, and a gripping means on said horizontal portion which grips said pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means, and

said gripping means on said yoke being comprised of a tongue pivotally connected at one of its ends to said first and second side members and having a notch formed in its other end; said tongue engaging said pipe when said yoke means is moved upwardly on said support means; said yoke means having a V- shaped jaw member pivotally connected at one of its ends to one of said side members adjacent one end thereof and being detachably connected at its other end to the other side member; said V-shaped jaw member gripping said pipe when said yoke means is moved upwardly on said support means and said other end of said jaw member is connected to said other side member.

3. In a pipe puller, comprising,

an upstanding support means,

a yoke means vertically movably mounted on said support means adapted to grip a pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means,

a hydraulic cylinder means vertically disposed adjacent said upstanding support means and operatively connected at one end to said yoke means and at the other end to said support means to move said yoke means upwardly and downwardly on said support means,

a brake means operatively engaging said pipe; said brake means gripping said pipe to prevent the downward movement thereof when said yoke means moves downwardly on said support means and adapted to release said pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means, and

said support means including an elongated vertical member having a leg portion extending downwardly and outwardly at its lower end; said vertical member having at least two leg members adjustably pivotally secured thereto as its lower end.

4. The structure of claim 3 and a rigid extendable means is connected to each of said brake members remotely of their pivot connection to said elongated vertical member, the other end of said extendable means being connected to said elongated vertical member above said pivot connection.

5. In a pipe puller, comprising,

an upstanding support means,

a yoke means vertically movably mounted on said support means adapted to grip a pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means,

a brake means operatively engaging said pipe; said brake means gripping said pipe to prevent the downward movement thereof when said yoke means moves downwardly on said support means and adapted to release said pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means, and

said support means being comprised of an elongated member having a downwardly extending leg portion and at least two leg members adjustably pivotally secured to said elongated member below said yoke means.

6. In a pipe puller, comprising,

an upstanding support means,

a yoke means vertically movably mounted on said supmeans adapted to grip a pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means,

means operatively connected to said yoke means to move said yoke means upwardly and downwardly on said support means,

a brake means operatively engaging said pipe; said brake means gripping said pipe to prevent the downward movement thereof when said yoke means moves downwardly on said support means and adapted to release said pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means, and

said yoke means including first and second spaced apart side members extending downwardly and outwardly of said support means and having first and second spaced apart wheel means rotatably mounted therebetween; said first and second wheel means engaging opposite sides of said support means, said side members terminating in horizontal portions extending outwardly of said support means, and a gripping means on said horizontal portions which grip said pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means.

7. In a pipe puller, comprising,

an upstanding support means,

a yoke means vertically movably mounted on said support means adapted to grip a pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means,

means operatively connected to said yoke means to move said yoke means upwardly and downwardly on said support means,

a brake means operatively engaging said pipe; said brake means gripping said pipe to prevent the downward movement thereof when said yoke means moves downwardly on said support means and adapted to release said pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means, and

said brake means being independent of and spaced from said support means and is comprised of a flat plate having a notch formed therein which embraces said pipe; said plate having a first tongue vertically pivotally secured thereto and adapted to engage one side of said pipe at times, a second plate member adjustably slidably mounted on said flat plate; said second plate having a second tongue secured thereto which is adapted to engage the other side of said pipe at times; and a hydraulic cylinder means mounted on said flat plate and connected to said first tongue to pivot said tongue into an out of engagement with said pipe.

8. In a pipe puller, comprising,

an upstanding support means,

a yoke means vertically movably mounted on said support means adapted to grip a pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means,

means operatively connected to said yoke means to move said yoke means upwardly and downwardly on said support means,

a brake means operatively engaging said pipe; said brake means gripping said pipe to prevent the downward movement thereof when said yoke means moves downwardly on said support means and adapted to release said pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means, said yoke means including first and second spaced apart side members having first and second spaced apart wheel means rotatably mounted therebetween; said first and second wheel means engaging opposite sides of said support means; said yoke means having a gripping means thereon which grips said pipe when said yokc means moves upwardly on said support means,

said gripping means on said yoke being comprised of a tongue pivotally connected at one of its ends to said first and second side members and having a notch formed in its other end; said tongue engaging said pipewhen said yoke means is moved upwardly on said support means, said yoke means having a V- shaped jaw member pivotally connected at one of its ends to one of said side members adjacent one end thereof and being detachably connected at its other end to the other side member; said V-shaped jaw member gripping said pipe when said yoke means is moved upwardly on said support means and said other end of said jaw member is connected to said other side member.

9. The pipe puller of claim 8 wherein said V-shaped jaw member has a gripping means detachably mounted thereon which engages said pipe.

10. In a pipe puller, comprising,

an upstanding support means,

a yoke means vertically movably mounted on said support means adapted to grip a pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means,

a hydraulic cylinder means vertically disposed adjacent said upstanding support means and operatively connected at one end to said yoke means and at the other end to said support means to move said yoke means upwardly and downwardly on said support means,

a brake means operatively engaging said pipe; said brake means gripping said pipe to prevent the downward movement thereof when said yoke means moves downwardly on said support means and adapted to release said pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means, and i said support means includes a first tubular member having a second tubular member selectively telescopically received in the upper end thereof and a pipe guide secured to said second tubular member.

11. In a pipe puller, comprising,

an upstanding support means,

a yoke means vertically movably mounted on said support means adapted to grip a pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means,

a hydraulic cylinder means vertically disposed adjacent said upstanding support means and operatively connected at one end to said yoke means and at the other end to said support means to move said yoke means upwardly and downwardly on said support means,

a brake means operatively engaging said pipe; said brake means gripping said pipe to prevent the downward movement thereof when said yoke means moves downwardly on said support means and adapted to release said pipe when said yoke means moves upwardly on said support means,

and an elongated pipe hanger means is pivotally connected at one of its ends to said yoke means; said pipe hanger having its other end adapted to receive a pipe member at times.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,392 3/1893 Wanamaker 254-31 638,001 11/1899 Bergerson 25431 765,364 7/1904 Kohout 254-31 788,738 5/1905 Thomas 254-31 965,807 7/1910 Garvey. 1,018,936 2/1912 Smith. 2,098,369 11/1937 Baash. 2,482,950 9/ 1949 Toftey 254--30 2,594,503 4/1952 Sanderson. 2,830,788 4/1958 Bentley et al 254106 X 2,868,501 l/1959 Cloud et al. 3,096,075 7/1963 Brown 254106 X WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner. 

1. IN A PIPE PULLER, COMPRISING, AN UPSTANDING SUPPORT MEANS, VERTICAL MOVABLE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS ADAPTED TO GRIP A PIPE WHEN SAID VERTICAL MOVABLE MEANS MOVES UPWARDLY ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, A FIRST HYDRAULIC CYLINDER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID VERTICAL MOVABLE MEANS TO MOVE SAID VERTICAL MOVABLE MEANS UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY ON AID SUPPORT MEANS, A BRAKE MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID PIPE AT TIMES; SAID BRAKE MEANS GRIPPING SAID PIPE TO PREVENT THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT THEREOF WHEN SAID VERTICAL MOVABLE MEANS MOVES DOWNWARDLY ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND ADAPTED TO RELEASE SAID PIPE WHEN SAID VERTICAL MOVABLE MEANS MOVES UPWARDLY ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, A SECOND HYDRAULIC CYLINDER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BRAKE MEANS TO MOVE SAID BRAKE MEANS INTO AND OUT OF GRIPPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PIPE, A VALVE MEANS OPERATIVELY FLUIDLY CONNECTED TO EACH END OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS, A HYDRAULIC POWER SOURCE OPERATIVELY FLUIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEANS ADAPTED TO SUPPLY FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID VALVE MEANS, MEANS ON SAID VALVE FOR SELECTIVELY DIRECTING SAID FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO ONE END OR THE OTHER OF SAID FIRST HYDRAULIC CYLINDER, AND MEANS ON SAID VALVE FOR SELECTIVELY DIRECTING SAID FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO ONE END OR THE OTHER OF SAID SECOND HYDRAULIC CYLINDER SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE DIRECTING OF SAID FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO ONE END OR THE OTHER OF SAID FIRST HYDRAULIC CYLINDER. 